Missouri State University

Writing or Editing a Blog Post

Writing a blog post

A post is an article within a blog, written by the blog’s author or authors. The posts should contain recent or updated information.
 

To write a new post:

  1. From your blog Dashboard, select the Posts menu in the left column, and you will see a list of existing posts. To add a new post, click Add New in the expanded Posts menu.
  2. Type your title in the text box directly under “Add New Post.” Your title should allow a reader to easily identify what your post is about.
  3. Type the text of your post in the box below the title. Format and modify it as desired using the tools available.
  4. Explore some of the other options available on this page before publishing. The buttons above the post text box include the Show/Hide Kitchen Sink button, which gives you more formatting options including tools for pasting plain text or text from Microsoft Word.
  5. When you are finished, click the Publish button on the right of your screen. 
You can save your work for later using the Save Draft button, which is also in the Publish section. You can also preview your work with the Preview button.

Adding a tag

Tags enable a blogger to identify the information and topics that can be found in a post. It is a system that then categorizes blog entries into a larger index of topics, which can be searched and shared for reference. 
 

To add a tag:

  1. When writing or editing a post, find the Tags section (usually located under Publish) and type in one or more words that describe topics in your blog post. 
  2. Separate multiple word entries with commas.
  3. Click Add.

Tips for Tags:

  • The best tag entries are those that are simple, concise and clear in meaning. For example:
    • installation
    • 2008 schedule
    • faculty dinner, menu
  • Avoid tag entries that are bunched up words or long phrases. For example:
    • helpmeplease
    • newphotos

Selecting a category

The categories option allows authors to group the post with certain departments or posts of similar content. This allows for easier navigation and search of desired topics.
 

To select a category:

  1. When writing or editing a post, locate the Categories section (located under Tags). 
  2. To define a new category:
    • Click Add New Category.
    • Type in the name of a category you wish to create.
    • Click on the drop-down menu to the right to select a desired parent category.
    • Click Add.
  3. Click on the desired category or categories in the All Categories box.
  4. Click Publish.

Editing a post

Users designated as editors have the ability to edit or delete posts, pages, and other features on their blog, while an author has the ability to edit or delete their own posts. This editing could include anything from content to format to advanced features.
 

To edit a post:

  1. From the blog Dashboard, click Posts at the top of the left column.
  2. Browse the list of published posts and drafts. As you move the cursor over each, links for editing will appear below their titles. Click Edit below the title of the post you want to change.
  3. You will arrive at a page just like the one seen when creating a post. Make the necessary changes to the desired area.
  4. When finished, click Update Post.

You also have the ability to delete a post by simply clicking on the Delete Post link next to the Save button, or the Delete link under each post title when you roll the cursor over them. 

To change the date of a post:

  1. On the Edit Posts screen, click the Quick Edit link that appears under the blog title when you move the cursor to it.
  2. Various text boxes and tools will appear that let you change various options. Beneath the Title and Slug text box will be an option to change the date and time of your post. 
  3. Once you’ve finished editing, click the Update Post button to the bottom right of the editing area.

To edit or delete multiple posts, click the check boxes of the posts you want to edit on the Edit Posts screen. At the top of the list of posts, choose edit or delete from the drop down box and then select Apply. You will be able to perform bulk edits affecting Categories, Tags, Author, Comments, and Status. To make these changes, click the Update Posts button. If you want to delete these posts, you will be asked to confirm your decision.

Copying and pasting post content

It is suggested that you avoid copying and pasting your content from other websites or programs like Word. If you do copy content from another source, this content will retain its original formatting and could be different in style as the rest of your blog, resulting in a mismatch of text fonts and formatting and an overall unpleasant aesthetic appearance. If you must copy and paste outside content, ensure that you follow these steps:

  1. When writing or editing your post, select the Show/Hide Kitchen Sink button, which is found at the top-right of your editor. This will allow an extra row of formatting buttons to appear.
  2. When pasting content from Word, select the Paste from Word button. If your content is from another outside source, select the Paste as Plain Text button.
  3. A small editor window will open. Paste your content into this box, and then select Insert.
  4. Your copied content is now pasted into your post without any outside formatting, and will match the style of your blog.